About Christmas Day in the United States
Christmas Day is a United States federal holiday on 25 December. It is a Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus and also a major cultural occasion for many people whose observance is family-centered or secular.
What Christmas Day represents
Christmas is rooted in Christian worship, and churches across the United States hold services during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The holiday is also observed outside a religious setting through family gatherings, meals, gifts and seasonal decorations. Customs vary widely among households and communities.
The federal calendar concerns the legal holiday date, not how anyone must celebrate it. The page therefore distinguishes the public calendar from religious practice and from the many cultural traditions that take place throughout December.
Federal date and observed day
Federal law fixes Christmas Day on 25 December. When that date falls on Saturday, most Monday-to-Friday federal employees observe the holiday on the preceding Friday. When it falls on Sunday, the following Monday is generally used.
The dates table may show both 25 December and a separate observed weekday. The observed entry explains the federal work-calendar treatment; it does not change the religious or calendar date of Christmas.
Planning for Christmas Day
Federal offices and many other organizations close for the holiday, but opening hours are not uniform. Essential services continue, and private employers, shops, restaurants and transport providers set their own schedules.
Check reservations, transport and local opening information well in advance because the wider Christmas travel period can affect services beyond the single federal holiday. State and local government schedules should also be confirmed separately.
Common questions about Christmas Day
Is Christmas Day a federal holiday in the United States?
Yes. Federal law lists Christmas Day on 25 December as a legal public holiday for the federal calendar.
Does an observed weekday replace 25 December?
No. Christmas remains 25 December; the nearby weekday is used for most affected federal employees when Christmas falls on a weekend.